Ever since the earliest days of jazz music, the pairing of piano and voice has frequently attained a deeply personal level of communication. It's evident in the distinct chemistry between two rising stars of their instruments: pianist Sullivan Fortner and singer Cécile McLorin Salvant.

Jazz Night In America gets to know the charming duo on stage at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola and beside a piano in a Harlem brownstone.

August 26, 2016. Posted by Corey Goldberg.

Rudy Van Gelder died at 91 this week at his home in New Jersey. During his career he took audio recording to a new level. He created the Blue Note sound, a sound that was his signature. Recordings captured by Rudy took on a timeless value, an audio session with seemingly no time stamp.

Gary Walker talked with WBGO's Bob Porter, who produced 100 recordings at Van Gelder's studios with the legendary recording engineer.

August 24, 2016. Posted by Corey Goldberg.

Portland-based singer, songwriter, and harmonica player Curtis Salgado stops by the Blues Break with guitarist Alan Hager to talk with Michael Bourne about his new album - and to heat up the studio with some live blues.

August 9, 2016. Posted by Simon Rentner.

When you talk to jazz aficionados, you often hear about a ground zero, a Eureka moment of musical awakening that opens up the bounty of the music. For some of us (myself included), that moment was hearing Herbie Hancock for the first time.

Perhaps that's because Hancock, more than most artists, is never afraid to explore the musical zeitgeist — from hard bop to jazz-rock, funk, hip-hop and beyond. He's recorded music over many decades (since 1962, to be exact) and has a deep repertoire to draw on, as he mentioned in a recent conversation. But that doesn't deter him from constantly searching for something new. "Possibilities" is one of his mantras, and the name of his recent memoir.

At age 76, Hancock is ready to pen the next chapter, this time inked with some of the innovators of today: Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Jacob Collier, Terrace Martin and Robert Glasper, among others. Some of those artists will join Hancock in an outdoor concert in Brooklyn this Thursday, Aug. 11. NPR Music, Jazz Night In America, and The Checkout from WBGOwill be there to capture it for later broadcast.

As we gear up for the concert, I asked some of Hancock's newest musical allies, closest old friends and admirers from afar to share their favorite Herbie Hancock music from over the years.